FINISH THAT THOUGHT #3-25 & 26

WELCOME! Merry Christmas! Happy Holidays! Happy New Year! We're going to do things differently this week. With the holiday season being a bit crazy and our time being not entirely our own, I've decided to keep this installment of FTT open for the duration of the holiday season. So, we will be live until after the new year! I hope that you will find time to fit in a story around the myriad of obligations during the next couple of weeks. You can even fit in two. We will go back to the normal schedule in January.

I have TWO first sentence prompts for you to choose from (or you can do a story for each). I also have FOUR different special challenges you can fit into one or both of your stories. You may choose to do only one of them or all four, whatever (or none, as is always an option).

I will be judging this round, BUT the winner will not be asked to judge the next round (though I reserve the right to ask for another day down the road depending on the popularity of keeping the contest open for a week). The winners of our Holiday Bash will be announced as soon as possible in January, depending on the number of entries.



If you haven't read the full version of the rules, go here. Otherwise, here's the short version:

Rules:
1. Start with the given first sentence. (Allowable alterations listed below)
2. Up to 500 words (exclusive of title)
3. Keep it clean (nothing rated R or above)
4. Optional Special Challenge
5. Stories submitted must be your own work, using characters and worlds that you have created. Sorry, no fanfiction.
6. Include: Twitter/email, word count, Special Challenge accepted
7. The challenge is open for 24 hours on Tuesday EST (Dec 21 - Jan 2)
8. Only one (two) entry(ies) judged per round. If you write/post more than one story, you need to indicate which you would like judged. If you fail to indicate, it will be the first one posted.
9. Winner judges next round.



Oh, and feel free to change pronouns, punctuation, tense, and anything in brackets to fit the story/pov/tone. I'm not going to be TOO picky... Our judge however...


Our Judge today is Alissa Leonard. (That's ME!) Alissa is a mom of three elementary aged children. She is also a substitute teacher. In her spare time (Wait! I have spare time???) she writes. She is working on her third edit of a YA fantasy novel, and is just about finished with a first draft of a MG fantasy novel. The number of really-cool-books-she-would-like-to-write-but-hasn't-yet is painfully long, but she is determined to WRITE ALL THE WORDS!!! She reads mostly fantasy and science fiction, but enjoys books from across the spectrum of literature. She loves TONS of geeky things, but Doctor Who is her favorite, followed closely by superheroes, Star Wars, and Star Trek. She's also a huge board game fan. You are already on her blog ( ;) ) and you can follow her on twitter @lissajean7.

 Your first sentence(s) for FINISH THAT THOUGHT #3-25 is (are) (Pick one):

It came upon a midnight clear.


"It'll be different this [year]."

 Your SPECIAL CHALLENGE(S) from the judge is (are):

Include onomatopoeia.

Include a kiss.

Include any of the following objects: star, bib, glue, thumbprint, journal, staple, platter, egg nog

Include any of the following verbs: thrust, gargle, shimmy, hurl, tiptoe, bellow, warble, lament, flounce, wallow, snicker

 AAAAAAAND WE'RE OFF!!!

FINISH THAT THOUGHT #3-24 - RESULTS!

Thanks for coming out and sharing your stories with us. If you missed either entry, go read it here. Finished? Great! Here's what the judge had to say:

Special Challenge Champion:

Festive Spirit

by Geoff Holme

A very bad pun to end with, but I will allow ‘Walking in the Ayr’.  I think this story should also get a special award for introducing our friends across the pond to Leyton Orient.  As a child of the Midlands originally, even mentioning this name takes me back to Saturday afternoons when the Football Results were read out.  This writer really took the special challenge seriously and cleverly paved the way for incorporating them by using coincidences to generate “And to top it all, We Three Kings Of Orient Are all Driving Home For Christmas!”  There were a few other spooky coincidences for me – my Dad’s name is Alan, and his parents lived in Coventry for many, many years so again I took a slight nostalgia hit.  All I needed was for the story to be written in Black Country dialect! (Yes, I know Coventry is down a bit from Birmingham but it’s all pretty much a variation on the accent, I lived on the edge of the West Midlands in Shropshire and that could be just as bad!).

So for bad jokes – “You looked out and the pavement was covered in Black Forest gateaux and the road in sherry trifle… The street was desserted!”, corny lines incorporating Christmas songs, nostalgia and for seriously getting into the Festive Spirit, this story truly deserves the Special Challenge award.

Grand Champion:

Hearing Things

by Audrey Weinberg

A story of two halves.  Starting off with a woman, apparently being ignored by her partner and thinking she is hearing things but needs to find out if she is crazy or not.  Taking the advice of neurologist Oliver Sacks she goes for a run, testing her voice, testing her hearing.  All is normal.  Until she gets home and then we realise, as she enters the cold, dark and empty house that the Joe she mentioned at the start of the story does not exist, is not there.  But is she mad? Pulling out a missed envelope she reads the lines that tell us why her house is in its mournful state, why Joe isn’t there - a ‘tragedy’ befell her on Christmas Day; it goes some way to explaining her mental state.  Using the sound of breaking glass to symbolise her shattered life was a nice touch and the beautiful finishing lines effectively underlined the tragedy she had experienced.

FINISH THAT THOUGHT #3-24

Welcome back! I hope you're feeling festive this week as we're getting into the Christmas spirit early (or late, depending who you ask). For those not in a festive mood (Not to worry, I've jingle bells and candy canes to spare!), she left tons of wiggle room for you to make of it what you will. So have at it, friends! I'm excited to see the stories your mind dreams up!



If you haven't read the full version of the rules, go here. Otherwise, here's the short version:

Rules:
1. Start with the given first sentence. (Allowable alterations listed below)
2. Up to 500 words (exclusive of title)
3. Keep it clean (nothing rated R or above)
4. Optional Special Challenge
5. Stories submitted must be your own work, using characters and worlds that you have created. Sorry, no fanfiction.
6. Include: Twitter/email, word count, Special Challenge accepted
7. The challenge is open for 24 hours on Tuesday EST
8. Only one entry judged per round. If you write/post more than one story, you need to indicate which you would like judged. If you fail to indicate, it will be the first one posted.
9. Winner judges next round.



Oh, and feel free to change pronouns, punctuation, tense, and anything in brackets to fit the story/pov/tone. I'm not going to be TOO picky... Our judge however...


Our Judge today is Steph Ellis. Read her winning tale from last week here! Steph writes flash, short stories (usually horror), poetry and has a novel lurking in the background.  She has had some stories published in various anthologies and magazines and a few more a scheduled for release this year.  She loves being part of the flash community and is proud to have been included in the upcoming Flash Dogs charity anthology, due out in the summer.  She can be found at her website My Playground and on twitter @el_Stevie.  The Flash Dogs can be found at http://theflashdogs.com/.  Check them out.

 Your first sentence for FINISH THAT THOUGHT #3-24 is:

There was a clatter of [hooves] on the roof and a loud [Ho, Ho, Ho].

 Your SPECIAL CHALLENGE from the judge is:

Include the TITLES of at least THREE well-known Christmas carols or songs.

 AAAAAAAND WE'RE OFF!!!

FINISH THAT THOUGHT #3-23 - RESULTS!

Thanks to both competitors for joining us this week and disrupting our sleep. If you missed either of the stories, go read them here. They are both excellent - and disturbing. Here's what the judge had to say:


Special Challenge Champion

Bill @bsbowens, “Tabbi's First”

This is such a sad, horrific little tale, with a whole lot of unanswered questions. It’s the best kind of horror tale, when the reader’s imagination works overtime to create and test a backstory. Tabbi’s going to need therapy for a long, long time, I suspect. Thank you for adopting the challenge, not one particularly well suited to horror.

Grand Champion

Steph Ellis @el_Stevie, “A World Away”

Steph was wise (I think) to pass on that challenge; adopting it would have probably hurt this story. Lillian got the therapy, but it didn’t “take,” on the face of things. What follows is a wild blend of Goldilocks (“and this one is just right!”) and Jame Gumb’s Woman Suit (“She stood in front of the bathroom mirror, slipping the scalped tresses over the bareness of her own skull.”) Creepy and disturbing, Steph, bravo—now please take her away to a nice, comfortably padded room.

I loved both tales, actually. (In my humble) both were excellent examples of horror.

FINISH THAT THOUGHT #3-23

Welcome! Welcome! We're so glad you've joined us today for the fun. I'm getting this posted late and I have a sick kiddo, so this will be even more brief than usual. Go ahead and read the prompt and write something amazing!



If you haven't read the full version of the rules, go here. Otherwise, here's the short version:

Rules:
1. Start with the given first sentence. (Allowable alterations listed below)
2. Up to 500 words (exclusive of title)
3. Keep it clean (nothing rated R or above)
4. Optional Special Challenge
5. Stories submitted must be your own work, using characters and worlds that you have created. Sorry, no fanfiction.
6. Include: Twitter/email, word count, Special Challenge accepted
7. The challenge is open for 24 hours on Tuesday EST
8. Only one entry judged per round. If you write/post more than one story, you need to indicate which you would like judged. If you fail to indicate, it will be the first one posted.
9. Winner judges next round.



Oh, and feel free to change pronouns, punctuation, tense, and anything in brackets to fit the story/pov/tone. I'm not going to be TOO picky... Our judge however...


Our Judge today is D.E. Park. Read his winning tale from last time here! Dave (D. E. Park) spends his spare time writing flash and micro fiction, and just attempting to get enough sleep. He’s a first-generation computer nerd (older than the internet), a lifetime devourer of SF&F (loser geek), even a comic book fan (three strikes!). He actually hasn’t been actively writing for very long (you can't tell?) He lives in Chicagoland with his wife Annie. Follow him @parkinkspot and check out his writing blog at parkinkspot.wordpress.com.

 Your first sentence for FINISH THAT THOUGHT #3-23 is:


credit: Gregory Carrico

[Tabbi] had never touched anything as [soft] as the [rabbit] she held in her lap.

 Your SPECIAL CHALLENGE from the judge is:

Include at least two embarrassing anecdotes related by your character(s).

 AAAAAAAND WE'RE OFF!!!

FINISH THAT THOUGHT #3-22 - RESULTS!

Congrats to all! Thanks for sharing your stories with us. If you missed any, go read them here. Otherwise, here's what the judge had to say:

‘Police Procedural’ by Geoff Holme

A wildly entertaining narrative in which a detective, through the use of nonsensical jargon, tries to communicate information gleaned from an informant. You made quick work of the special challenge with all the words and ten body parts cleverly interjected. My favorite: ‘DS Chapman sucked his teeth. “Any idea what those things’ll do to you? I’ve seen a forty a day blokes lungs in a forensic bowl once…black and putrid. Made me quit straight away.”’ I love it! Thanks for submitting your story! I didn’t include it because it was late; since I’m a newbie, I figured I better keep things procedural.  

Special Challenge Champion:  

‘Revenge’ by Steph Ellis

The hilarious aftermath of a foiled plot of revenge on a cheating husband. The story was active and descriptive; the “copper” smashing poor Tinker after his fall down the winding staircase was great fun for the reader— not so much for the cat! And Liz— what a character! She reminds me of my aunt— so dramatic! Great job!

You included six references to body parts and all ten of those crazy words while still managing to create a fantastic, funny story. What can I say, Steph; you are truly a master of the special challenge!

Grand Champion:  

‘Trapped’ by Dave@ParkInkSpot

A well written story about a big brother driving his “gifted” little sister through a small town to rescue a litter of orphaned kittens she’d dreamt about that morning. Dave, being from a small southern town myself, I can say your story is spot on— the speed trap where Sam escapes with a warning because his mother was the cop’s sixth grade teacher, nice! I loved that you were subtle about Emily’s physic abilities, allowing the reader to learn about her gift as the story unfolds.  At the risk of sounding like a stalker, I have to admit the story intrigued me enough to snoop out your website; I found another snippet about Sam and Emily — the spirits in the jars…FANTASTIC!

As for the special challenge; a trifecta of body parts in one sentence! ‘She squinted, crossed her eyes, and stuck out her tongue when the beam lit her tangled hair.’ In addition, I counted three special challenge words, hair, cat, and blue smoke, all masterfully incorporated— especially blue smoke! Well done!

FINISH THAT THOUGHT #3-22

Welcome back as we jump into December with both feet! If you've just completed NaNo: CONGRATULATIONS!!!! YOU ARE FINISHED!!! Whether you're a 'WINNER' or you just wrote a few words: I'm proud of you! Words toward a goal are to be celebrated. My personal goal for the month was somewhere around 30K or when I've finished the novel. Right now I'm just under 25K for the month with a day to go and a scene and a half to write (I think...). (I've passed 50K for the novel.) So my goal is certainly within the realm of possibility. Anyway, let's keep the good writing vibes going through the month of December! Go check out today's prompt and write something amazing!



If you haven't read the full version of the rules, go here. Otherwise, here's the short version:

Rules:
1. Start with the given first sentence. (Allowable alterations listed below)
2. Up to 500 words (exclusive of title)
3. Keep it clean (nothing rated R or above)
4. Optional Special Challenge
5. Stories submitted must be your own work, using characters and worlds that you have created. Sorry, no fanfiction.
6. Include: Twitter/email, word count, Special Challenge accepted
7. The challenge is open for 24 hours on Tuesday EST
8. Only one entry judged per round. If you write/post more than one story, you need to indicate which you would like judged. If you fail to indicate, it will be the first one posted.
9. Winner judges next round.



Oh, and feel free to change pronouns, punctuation, tense, and anything in brackets to fit the story/pov/tone. I'm not going to be TOO picky... Our judge however...


Our Judge today is Catherine Custard. Read her winning tale from last week here! Find her on Twitter @cat_custard. Catherine is a mother of three teenagers who teaches English riding lessons and leads fourth graders on Civil War/Civil Rights tours in downtown Montgomery, Alabama. She’s just discovered flash fiction which is a welcome distraction from the mystery novel she’s dangerously close to finishing!

 Your first sentence for FINISH THAT THOUGHT #3-22 is:

Officer [desperate plea], I can explain!

Desperate plea is optional; you may fill the bracket or leave it out as you see fit.

 Your SPECIAL CHALLENGE from the judge is:

Reference 3 human body parts AND include at least 3 of the following words:

cat

blue smoke

hair

winding staircase

putrid

snout

hose

fog horn

hot chocolate

trifecta

 AAAAAAAND WE'RE OFF!!!

FINISH THAT THOUGHT #3-21 - RESULTS!

Sorry this post took a little while. I hope you all had a spectacular few days, and didn't fret over the lateness of the post. If you missed any of our entries this week, go read them here. Otherwise, here's what the judge had to say:

A heart-felt thank you to everyone who responded to the plea for entries this week. They were all interesting and varied responses to the prompts.

‘Not Ordinary People’ by Sal Page

Due to your advancing years, Sal, I overlooked the missing words in the opening sentence prompt. ;-)

I liked the use of ‘It happened one night’; it seems very natural after the opening sentence. (Perhaps adding ‘... in the heat of the night’ would have been a step too far, although the story is set in a summer holiday resort.)

I was beginning to be irritated by the repetition of ‘she said’, ‘I said’ until I twigged that this was to emphasise that they were BOTH compulsive liars. (Six months to live but planning to go to university? does not compute!)

It’s a very intense piece, nicely broken up by the explanation of the MC’s pathological fibbing. It took a few readings to appreciate everything that was going on, but in the end, I really liked it.

@

The film titles were incorporated in a natural manner. But I counted EIGHT Oscar winning films. Unless I missed one, I assume you’re counting ‘Ordinary People’ in the title. Alissa’s full rules says the Special Challenge is a prompt to be included ‘in your story’. I take this to exclude the title, since word count does so. [Alissa, can you clarify this point in the full rules, please?] Yes, and done. Special Challenges are the sole discretion of the judge. That said, this particular issue has never come up before, and while the title is very much a part of your story, it isn’t included in your word count and so not eligible for Special Challenge inclusion.

Even if the title is allowed, you mention ‘Ordinary People’ in the story; mentioning the same film title more than once definitely doesn’t count - Steph includes ‘Marty’ NINE times!

Hang on… Looking back, I see that you say “One is two words split.” If you mean ‘Annie’ (second para)… ‘hall’ (end of fourth para), that’s a little too creative - even for me!

(It’s a good thing that @FlashDogs volunteered me to ignore typos, otherwise I might have been compelled to point out that it should be ‘redcoat’ and ‘Brasenose’...)

‘Special Delivery’ by Stella

A potential punch-up and shotgun wedding, turns out to be a marriage made in heaven. ‘Good ale wasted was not on our to do list’ tells us a lot in a few short words about the characters involved and their environment.

[ Sorry, Stella, but I couldn’t let ‘anymore’ slip by: it’s an adverb, meaning ‘any longer’. What you needed was ‘any more’. Oh, and ‘Marilyn MONROE’... ]

@

The Special Challenge was films that won Best Movie Oscar, not nominees. I assume that ‘Black Swan’, ‘Star Wars’ and ‘The Colo(u)r Purple’ are included as movie titles - they were all nominated, but did not win. I counted seven correct references - a goodly number.

‘Just Friends’ by Lauren Greene

A gentle tale of watching one film (The Graduate), while its plot explores the premise of another (When Harry Met Sally). The MC’s misuse of ‘December-February relationship’ and her failure to pick up the implication of the expensive cologne indicate that she’s not the sharpest knife in the drawer.

I like the phrase ‘not the kind you wear when you’re schlepping on your friend’s couch watching an old movie’ and the description of the ‘classic movie move’. I haven’t seen ‘The Graduate’ for years, but the bewildered question “Is he in a swimming pool?” brought the opening scene flooding (no pun intended) back to me.

@

You didn’t say that you accepted the Special Challenge, Laura, but I found five film titles scattered throughout the story. If you did accept the challenge, I have to point out that none of them are Oscar winners for Best Film, not even ‘The Graduate’ which you say did! Perhaps you mistook the challenge to include all films nominated for best movie, but two of them don’t fall even into that category!

(Also, the idea was to use the movie titles in a creative way - not simply to refer to the movies themselves. Perhaps that was my fault for not stating it explicitly.)

SPECIAL CHALLENGE CHAMPION: 

‘Elixir of Youth’ by Steph Ellis

A light-hearted but darkly humorous take on the prompt.

I liked the use of ‘No Country For Old Men’ as a contrast to the ‘cult of youth’, and ‘We can make a killing’ is a chilling omen.

‘...led her across the carpet in a bizarre tango’ sounds like a judge’s comment on ‘Strictly Come Dancing’! Not quite top of the leaderboard, Steph, but close.

@

I counted ten Oscar-winning films incorporated into the story, some with great dexterity, making this the Special Challenge Champion.

GRAND CHAMPION: 

‘Social Media’ by Catherine Custard

I loved this story! It reads like a family breakfast scenario that could very easily happen.

Giving one child’s phone to the other, to make up for losing her rag and smashing the first phone, is a classic gambit by a parent.

The staccato, telegraphese of the one-sided telephone conversation is deftly written, allowing the single word film title ‘UNFORGIVEN’ to be incorporated seamlessly.

There are a lot of references to contemporary culture that are alien to this old codger, but ‘busting your geriatric moves’ was a LOL moment for me; it was great that you resolved the tension by ending the story with another one for Kat.

Great stuff, Catherine!

@

I counted 4.5 Oscar winning films... People familiar with my posts to flash fiction contests will know that I am a stickler for exactitude: The 1968 winner is entitled ‘Oliver!’; Lionel Bart was infamous for his musicals with an exclamation mark in the title. ‘Oliver!’ would have fitted quite naturally into the story at that point, but, as I said, that’s just me being a little bit picky.  :-)

FINISH THAT THOUGHT #3-21

Welcome! Thanks for joining us! I'm attempting to finish the first draft of the novel I'm working on for NaNo and I may be able to do it. I won't hit 50K, but I love how NaNo pushes me and the community encourages me. I may never "win" NaNo, but I'm a winner - every year. Plus, I still have a week. Go check out the prompt, and keep writing!



If you haven't read the full version of the rules, go here. Otherwise, here's the short version:

Rules:
1. Start with the given first sentence. (Allowable alterations listed below)
2. Up to 500 words (exclusive of title)
3. Keep it clean (nothing rated R or above)
4. Optional Special Challenge
5. Stories submitted must be your own work, using characters and worlds that you have created. Sorry, no fanfiction.
6. Include: Twitter/email, word count, Special Challenge accepted
7. The challenge is open for 24 hours on Tuesday EST
8. Only one entry judged per round. If you write/post more than one story, you need to indicate which you would like judged. If you fail to indicate, it will be the first one posted.
9. Winner judges next round.



Oh, and feel free to change pronouns, punctuation, tense, and anything in brackets to fit the story/pov/tone. I'm not going to be TOO picky... Our judge however...


Our Judge today is Geoff Holme. Read his tale from last week here! Geoff is semi-retired, insofar as he does not have any paid employment. So he spends far too much time writing flash fiction which he discovered in September 2014. He lives in West Sussex, UK and is reachable on Twitter (@GeoffHolme)

 Your first sentence for FINISH THAT THOUGHT #3-21 is:

It was all in [the timing]; something like this was bound to [come out] sooner or later.

 Your SPECIAL CHALLENGE from the judge is:

Include the names of two or more winners of Academy Award for Best Picture. 

 AAAAAAAND WE'RE OFF!!!

FINISH THAT THOUGHT #3-20 - RESULTS!

Hello, friends! I'm sure so many of you can empathize with Geoff's story this week. We want to get that perfect opening line to propel us into the story. I'm here to tell you: Nothing has to be perfect the first time around. Think: Dory ("Just keep swimming..."). And here we give you the first line, so you don't even need to worry about it! :) Anyway, if you missed his story, go read it here. Now here's what the judge had to say about it:

Special Challenge AND Grand Champion: 

Geoff Holme (@GeoffHolme)

Whew, there must be so many aspiring novelists sweating out their new books. I hope that’s going really well for all of you!

Geoff brings us a tale this week of a writing team plodding their way out of writer’s block, one word at a time. Sometimes that’s what it takes, I suppose. “Perseverance is everything,” quoth the tortoise. Hopefully, once set in motion, the ball will roll rapidly downhill. And watch out for those nut allergies, and the heinous unholy horror of (::shudder::) veggie-dogs.

Thanks you for the tale, Geoff. Speaking of dogs, go #Flashdogs!

FINISH THAT THOUGHT #3-20

Welcome! We're glad you've come to test yourself against our prompt today. So go ahead and check it out and write us something amazing! 



If you haven't read the full version of the rules, go here. Otherwise, here's the short version:

Rules:
1. Start with the given first sentence. (Allowable alterations listed below)
2. Up to 500 words (exclusive of title)
3. Keep it clean (nothing rated R or above)
4. Optional Special Challenge
5. Stories submitted must be your own work, using characters and worlds that you have created. Sorry, no fanfiction.
6. Include: Twitter/email, word count, Special Challenge accepted
7. The challenge is open for 24 hours on Tuesday EST
8. Only one entry judged per round. If you write/post more than one story, you need to indicate which you would like judged. If you fail to indicate, it will be the first one posted.
9. Winner judges next round.



Oh, and feel free to change pronouns, punctuation, tense, and anything in brackets to fit the story/pov/tone. I'm not going to be TOO picky... Our judge however...


Our Judge today is D.E. Park. Read his winning tale from last time here! Dave (D. E. Park) spends his spare time writing flash and micro fiction, and just attempting to get enough sleep. He’s a first-generation computer nerd (older than the internet), a lifetime devourer of SF&F (loser geek), even a comic book fan (three strikes!). He actually hasn’t been actively writing for very long (you can't tell?) He lives in Chicagoland with his wife Annie. Follow him @parkinkspot and check out his writing blog at parkinkspot.wordpress.com.

 Your first sentence for FINISH THAT THOUGHT #3-20 is:

Somewhere in a lonely [hotel room], there's a [guy] starting to realize that eternal fate has turned its back on him.

 Your SPECIAL CHALLENGE from the judge is:

A near-death experience.

 AAAAAAAND WE'RE OFF!!!

FINISH THAT THOUGHT #3-19

Last week I expect you were all gung-ho with your NaNo projects and didn't have time to incorporate another prompt into your writing life. That's cool. I hope you got TONS of words last week. Perhaps this week you're struggling to know where to go in your project. Well, we have another prompt for you. WOOHOO!!! Get to it!




If you haven't read the full version of the rules, go here. Otherwise, here's the short version:

Rules:
1. Start with the given first sentence. (Allowable alterations listed below)
2. Up to 500 words (exclusive of title)
3. Keep it clean (nothing rated R or above)
4. Optional Special Challenge
5. Stories submitted must be your own work, using characters and worlds that you have created. Sorry, no fanfiction.
6. Include: Twitter/email, word count, Special Challenge accepted
7. The challenge is open for 24 hours on Tuesday EST
8. Only one entry judged per round. If you write/post more than one story, you need to indicate which you would like judged. If you fail to indicate, it will be the first one posted.
9. Winner judges next round.



Oh, and feel free to change pronouns, punctuation, tense, and anything in brackets to fit the story/pov/tone. I'm not going to be TOO picky... Our judge however...


Our Judge today is D.E. Park. Read his winning tale from last time here! Dave (D. E. Park) spends his spare time writing flash and micro fiction, and just attempting to get enough sleep. He’s a first-generation computer nerd (older than the internet), a lifetime devourer of SF&F (loser geek), even a comic book fan (three strikes!). He actually hasn’t been actively writing for very long (you can't tell?) He lives in Chicagoland with his wife Annie. Follow him @parkinkspot and check out his writing blog at parkinkspot.wordpress.com.

 Your first sentence for FINISH THAT THOUGHT #3-19 is:


Credit: Robert Aspirin

There is something infinitely satisfying about doing something you know you aren't supposed to.

 Your SPECIAL CHALLENGE from the judge is:

Write two alternate endings (last 100 words or less). You may exceed your word count by the length of the alternate.

 AAAAAAAND WE'RE OFF!!!

FINISH THAT THOUGHT #3-18

WOOHOO!!! Welcome to November! If you're doing NaNo, may this prompt spark amazing things in your project. If not...WHY NOT??? :) Either way, write something amazing. I can't wait to read all about it. Go check out the prompt and HAVE AT IT!




If you haven't read the full version of the rules, go here. Otherwise, here's the short version:

Rules:
1. Start with the given first sentence. (Allowable alterations listed below)
2. Up to 500 words (exclusive of title)
3. Keep it clean (nothing rated R or above)
4. Optional Special Challenge
5. Stories submitted must be your own work, using characters and worlds that you have created. Sorry, no fanfiction.
6. Include: Twitter/email, word count, Special Challenge accepted
7. The challenge is open for 24 hours on Tuesday EST
8. Only one entry judged per round. If you write/post more than one story, you need to indicate which you would like judged. If you fail to indicate, it will be the first one posted.
9. Winner judges next round.



Oh, and feel free to change pronouns, punctuation, tense, and anything in brackets to fit the story/pov/tone. I'm not going to be TOO picky... Our judge however...


Our Judge today is D.E. Park. Read his winning tale from last week here! Dave (D. E. Park) spends his spare time writing flash and micro fiction, and just attempting to get enough sleep. He’s a first-generation computer nerd (older than the internet), a lifetime devourer of SF&F (loser geek), even a comic book fan (three strikes!). He actually hasn’t been actively writing for very long (you can't tell?) He lives in Chicagoland with his wife Annie. Follow him @parkinkspot and check out his writing blog at parkinkspot.wordpress.com.

 Your first sentence for FINISH THAT THOUGHT #3-18 is:


borrowed from Carrie Underwood:

[I] took a Louisville Slugger to [both headlights].

 Your SPECIAL CHALLENGE from the judge is:

Write for a specific target audience: Mrs. Grundy. Make her scowl or make her smile, as you prefer. (Mrs. Grundy is a tyrannical prude who enjoys scathing gossip and considers herself the arbiter of respectability. A tendency to be overly fearful of what the respectable society might think is also referred to as grundyism.)

 AAAAAAAND WE'RE OFF!!!

FINISH THAT THOUGHT #3-17 - RESULTS!

Thanks so much for your patience; I was unable to get on the computer yesterday. But your results are up now! If you missed any of the stories, go read them here. And without further ado, here's what the judge had to say:

I chose the opening phrase hoping it would birth thoughtful and personal interpretations of what it means to hate the good times. You all didn’t disappoint giving me three distinct and beautiful expositions. As for the special challenge, I’m still writhing to know which sentences fulfilled the prompt…

“Samoan Daydreams”

by Audrey Gran Weinberg

Oh, the pain of being made to feel irrelevant!  Your protagonist captured my heart and felt especially real after spitting out “paint flakes” – a brilliantly human detail.  The tragic thing is that Janet might have listened, might have acknowledged the desire for connection, had the school teacher been recounting terrible or painful memories. A convincing write.

“Astrally Projecting to Baskin-Robbins on Halloween”

by Richard Edenfield

I’m still in awe of how you’ve managed to create a story that simultaneously feels like childhood and weighs more than all the stars in heaven. Maybe it’s how you paint the flavors on my tongue while your words bind my body to a paralytic’s chair. For poetic descriptors and an intriguing protagonist, well done.

Special Challenge and Grand Champion - 

“Light the Corners of My Mind”

by Dave Park

Such a fantastic way to finish the first bookend! Instead of hiding the “why” you answer it immediately, snaring my interest before shattering my expectations that I’ll be exploring the frustrations of losing oneself to Alzheimer’s. Instead a whole world pulls itself together from the page, one uncommon and riveting. I feel my sympathies for the protagonist push out of my chest only to have them bounce back, unaccepted, wondering if I should have even given them. Who is the individual in the chair? Does he deserve this “mental treatment”? Much is left unsaid, trusting the reader to absorb and understand. This one demanded special challenge nod as well – I can’t even begin to guess which are the truths and which the lie. Stellar job, writer.

FINISH THAT THOUGHT #3-17

Welcome to the fun as we round out October. Go check out the prompt and show us the amazing inside of you. Also, let me know if you're doing Nano this year (my name over on the boards is lissajean if you want a friend) and if you're a pantser/planner/rebel/etc. Go write! Have fun! :)



If you haven't read the full version of the rules, go here. Otherwise, here's the short version:

Rules:
1. Start with the given first sentence. (Allowable alterations listed below)
2. Up to 500 words (exclusive of title)
3. Keep it clean (nothing rated R or above)
4. Optional Special Challenge
5. Stories submitted must be your own work, using characters and worlds that you have created. Sorry, no fanfiction.
6. Include: Twitter/email, word count, Special Challenge accepted
7. The challenge is open for 24 hours on Tuesday EST
8. Only one entry judged per round. If you write/post more than one story, you need to indicate which you would like judged. If you fail to indicate, it will be the first one posted.
9. Winner judges next round.



Oh, and feel free to change pronouns, punctuation, tense, and anything in brackets to fit the story/pov/tone. I'm not going to be TOO picky... Our judge however...


Our Judge today is Foy S Iver. Read her winning tale from last week here! Foy S. Iver cultivates a normal life that sprung up from abnormal soil. She is a Dragon, FlashDog,  and, as of recently, an Editor for Firefly Magazine (for this, she is human). Find her on the Twitter machine @fs_iver or on her website www.foyiver.com. And remember, don't touch that button...

Your first sentence for FINISH THAT THOUGHT #3-17 is:

No one tells you it's the good memories you'll resent the most.

 Your SPECIAL CHALLENGE from the judge is:

Imbed 2 truths and 1 falsehood about yourself or your past.

AAAAAAAND WE'RE OFF!!!

FINISH THAT THOUGHT #3-16 - RESULTS!

WOOHOO!!! What a fun bunch of stories this week! If you missed any of them, you can read them all here. Otherwise, you can read what the judge had to say:

GHOST STORIES by Foy Iver

This is fantastic! I love Jared’s epic tale, particularly the moo moo. The structure of the story is fun and sets the scene perfectly.

THE GOOD OLD BAD DAYS by Dylyce P. Clarke

This tiny story holds a large truth.

HOMEGROWN HORROR by Nancy Chenier

A chilling tale with a warm ending. I like the use of the laughter in this one. It’s a different kind of scary when the creatures are in your head.

UNTITLED VIGNETTE by Michael D. Hansen

Creepy, and very Halloween-y. I like the use of the monsters, and the twist at the end is great.

GHOST-WRITING by Geoff Holme

This is adorable. Perhaps an odd choice of adjectives, given the story’s twist ending, but I adored every second.

SPECIAL CHALLENGE CHAMPION

GHOST-WRITING – Geoff Holme

This is the story that tickled me the most. You poked fun at me, you poked fun at the horror genre, and you ended the story with a gruesome twist that made me laugh (in a bone-chilling way). This is how Halloween monsters should be used. I wonder which monster was doing the spell-check?

GRAND CHAMPION

GHOST STORIES – Foy Iver

Your Jared is my favourite Jared this week. I’m not sure if he was talking to a ghost or himself – either way it felt like Halloween!

FINISH THAT THOUGHT #3-16

Welcome! I'm glad you're here today. Go check out the prompts and write something amazing!



If you haven't read the full version of the rules, go here. Otherwise, here's the short version:

Rules:
1. Start with the given first sentence. (Allowable alterations listed below)
2. Up to 500 words (exclusive of title)
3. Keep it clean (nothing rated R or above)
4. Optional Special Challenge
5. Stories submitted must be your own work, using characters and worlds that you have created. Sorry, no fanfiction.
6. Include: Twitter/email, word count, Special Challenge accepted
7. The challenge is open for 24 hours on Tuesday EST
8. Only one entry judged per round. If you write/post more than one story, you need to indicate which you would like judged. If you fail to indicate, it will be the first one posted.



Oh, and feel free to change pronouns, punctuation, tense, and anything in brackets to fit the story/pov/tone. I'm not going to be TOO picky... Our judge however...


Our Judge today is Holly Geely. Read her winning tale from last week here! Check out her website at hollygeely.wordpress.com. Follow her on twitter @hollygeely. Holly Geely's fiction pops up now and again in online magazines and she's a proud FlashDog. She recently added a fourth furbaby to the family, and the puppy is an adorable terror.


Your first sentence for FINISH THAT THOUGHT #3-16 is:

[Jared] could not outrun the echo of the bone-chilling laughter.  

 Your SPECIAL CHALLENGE from the judge is:

Include at least two traditional Halloween monsters.

AAAAAAAND WE'RE OFF!!!

FINISH THAT THOUGHT #3-15 - RESULTS!

Sorry the post is late. If you missed reading either of our entries, you can amend that here. Once you've read them, here's what the judge had to say:

Special Challenge Champion

Modern Day Duel

by Lauren Greene

I liked the tone of this piece, the narrator’s confusion and subsequent headache easily transported the reader in the character’s headspace. The author included the special challenge in a wonderful manner, something that is sure to stick with me in the future when feeling sick. Also, as a DC resident, I was able to fully picture the setting the author described. Great work!

Grand Champion

Simple Math

by Holly Geely

A light and funny piece about meddling gone wrong. I liked the dynamic between the sisters, it was very realistic and the author did a great job of balancing a caring, loving, sister with one that also disapproved of her twin’s lifestyle. I liked the format as well, including the “before” and “after” seamlessly and telling a great story in such few words.